SELA leaders meet to focus on the primary elections

During the monthly SELA Leaders Convening in Huntington Park on Thursday, a presentation included a survey that revealed that 65% of people couldn't name an elected official. This information is critical as the region  approaches the primary elections on June 2. 

The survey by Radiant Futures Consulting was answered by 832 people, mainly from California, and some indicated they recognized the faces of politicians but not their names. The only person some were able to recognize was California Gov.Gavin Newsom. 

Rosa Vasquez, founder and president of Radiant Futures Consulting, said the survey was created late last year with the goal of learning more about the needs of the communities in areas such as Southeast L.A. (SELA), where about 94% of the population is Latino. 

She said they found out through conversations that there is a lack of knowledge in politics not because people are not interested, but mainly because of a lack of free time. 

“Some people work two jobs, the economy is so bad that people can barely afford to eat, so how do we expect folks in survival mode to be thinking about spending hours researching a candidate?” asked Vasquez. 

The 60-question survey was facilitated in person to 400 people in Southern California and the rest was done through networks and phone calls across the country. In total, seven states and 13 cities participated. 

Among other answers, surveyors indicated that community organizations are trusted 1.6 times more than political institutions. Among their priorities were employment at 66%, food costs at 55% and housing at 42%. 

Patricia Flores, a member of the community network Semillas de Poder, said they continue empowering people through regular community forums. 

During these conversations, people show concern about the next leader or leaders at the local and state levels.

“We don’t tell them who to vote for, but we let them know who the candidates are, what they have done, and what’s [in] their resumé,” she said. “It’s not just because they are Latino that we will support. We want to know who their donors are and what their interests are. We share knowledge with the community.”

Flores said sometimes outsiders confuse SELA as politically uneducated on purpose when in reality it’s a hard-working area where people are interested in learning but lack time and resources. 

Marisol Coronado, another member of Semillas de Poder, said she personally has learned so much from these forums. 

“We want [organizations] to tell us the truth, don’t lie to us and give us the right information,” she said. 

Vasquez said the survey provided preliminary information during the forum and they are working on making it available to the community. 

A monthly meeting by invitation only

The monthly SELA Leaders Convening gathers around 60 leaders from different entities. While the information is widely shared, Liliana Alonso, associate director with SELA, said they protect the people participating.

“We want to make sure that whoever comes in has the best intention for our community and it’s not just transactional,” she said. 

The forum brings different topics that range from politics to environmental issues, education and health among others. 

Alonso said all stakeholders including representatives from elected officials arrive to present what they are working on. No new programs are created unless it is really necessary and that will benefit the SELA area. 

To learn more about the work being done prior to elections and information in your area, visit:

https://communitypowerhub.netlify.app/index-es